Quaker Chemical and Newgarden Bring Great Momentum to Houston

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Oct. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh off the best finish of the season, a strong 2nd place at the Grand Prix of Baltimore, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) and driver Josef Newgarden head to The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston with tremendous momentum. Newgarden excels at temporary street circuits, so the 1.7 mile, 10-turn temporary street circuit built in, and around, the Reliant Park complex should align with his strengths.

"The Houston track will be new to me, although some of the other drivers have experience on the track from the Champ Car days, but I'm sure we'll get up to speed quickly," Newgarden said. "The track is a little shorter and tighter than Baltimore, but I love all of the street circuits plus the team has a really good setup for them. I think we'll be competitive. I can't wait to get started!"

Quaker Chemical Corporation, an official sponsor and technical partner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, will again back Newgarden's No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry in Houston as the team looks to move up a position from the recent Baltimore finish, taking their first win as a team/driver combination.

"We look forward to seeing the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing team continue their momentum from the Baltimore race and have another great finish in Houston," said Joseph Berquist, Quaker VP and Managing Director North America. "The street circuit races this season have been a great test for the wheel bearing grease technology we have been developing with the SFHR team. And we are eager to see it help Josef's car run strong all the way to the finish."

IndyCar racing returns to Houston after a six-year hiatus and will feature the doubleheader format, also seen at Toronto and Detroit earlier in the season, with two full-length championship races during the weekend. With only three races remaining in the 2013 IZOD IndyCar season, Newgarden currently sits in 14th position in championship points, just 72 markers out of the top ten.

"Our goal all season has been to get the most we can out of every race, finish in the top ten in points, and hopefully win a race or two," Newgarden said. "Our form at Baltimore and Brazil showed that we are contenders for race wins and I think we have a legitimate chance to attain all of our goals in these last few races."

Newgarden's No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car will feature a new look this weekend from its new primary sponsor, leading single-source North American energy services provider, Strike, LLC, with a distinctive chrome-based red, white and blue paint scheme. SFHR hopes the car will be easy to spot in its race to lead the pack.

Both Grand Prix of Houston races will air live on NBC Sports Network; Race 1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Race 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 6. For the latest trackside updates from SFHR, follow @SFHRindy on Twitter and Instagram.

About Quaker Chemical Corporation:

Quaker Chemical Corporation is a leading global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries, including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, cans, and others. For nearly 100 years, Quaker has helped customers around the world achieve production efficiency, improve product quality, and lower costs through a combination of innovative technology, process knowledge, and customized services. Headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, Quaker serves businesses worldwide with a network of dedicated and experienced professionals whose mission is to make a difference. Visit www.quakerchem.com to learn more.

About Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing:

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) was established in 2008 and is owned by former driver Sarah Fisher, the youngest woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to run a full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, and businessman Wink Hartman. SFHR has competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2008, earning its first victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway. For more information on Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, visit www.sfhracing.com.